The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-01-20
South R;ver Mineral District.

South hiVer mineral DlStFlcts
The indications are favorable for I'M
usual activity in mineral developments in
the South River District in the early
Spring. The region along the line OF the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad, running
from north to south through Augusta
county, and between South River and the
base of the Blue Ridge, will be occupied
by various parties prospecting for Manga
nese. with the promise of good returns
for their labor. The Crimora and Old
Dominion mines are fixed facts, from which
will be taken from 100 to 100 tons of ore
daily, as soon as the weather will permit
enlarged operations. Allthe preparations,
we learn, are completed for comprehensive
working, and as the deposits have been
tested, there is no doubt Of the profitable
results. Carnegie Bros. Of Pittsburg,
have tie lease of these properties, and
consume, lat their furnaces, all the output,
and would do so were it as large again as
it is now.
Messrs. Potts & Morris have found man
ganese on the lands of MI. Watts, about
four miles south of Crimora, from which
they have mined and shipped a small
quantity Of superior ore. They have
leased the Jacob Hildebrand land, in the
vicinity, and in the Spring will commence
operations on an enlarged scale.
Near Sherando, Mr.. O'Hearn has opened
and worked, to limited degree, a deposit
Of the ore, and is making arrangements
for more extensive operations in the
Spring.
Wissler Bros. have leased the Mt. Tor
rey property-some 6 600 or 5000 acres,
southeast of sheranao, to a Baltimore syndi
cate. of which Mr. Jacob Nissler is one,
and in the early spring Will inaugurase a
comprehensive plan forts DEVELOPMENT.
The lease is fornlnety-nine years, with an
eighteen months option in which to pros
pect for manganese. During last fall aud
this winter the Messrs. Wissler worked a
force for several months Oh this property,
and we're encouraged to believe that when
the weather becomes more favorable, they
will find manganese in paying quantities.
Upon this property thereis charcoal fur
mace, bnt 1t has moi been in blast for some
years.
On the Kennedy property, southwest of
Mt Torrey. containing about $500 acres,
Messrs. J. 8. White & Co., Of Pittsburg.
are at work, with good prospects for re-
munerative find. Two or three hundred
tons Of manganese have already been Ia
ken cut from prospecting shafts. They
are now placing improved machinery, and
expect in few days to make more salts
factory tests OF the location Of the ore.
The promise on this property is hatter-
ing, bat there is no certainty about man
ganese until tits found. 1t is furtive
aud uncertain deposit, with DO very well
defined geological or meteorological laws to
guide in the determination of its locality,
in quantities sufficient to work TO profit.
1t has TO be tested, first by drills, and then
by shafts, and then sometimes disappoint-
ment is met
There are various other properties in
this locality where the surface indications
are favorable to the existence of the ore,
bat SO far as we know, the above named
are those only where organized arrange
ments have been made to work them. If
success shall attend the efforts of these
companies or firms, we may expect nnmer-
Gus other similar enterprises to be organ
lied and worked, as there are other proper
ties which give evidence Of the presence
Of the ore. as strongly as do these.
It is with a view to the success Of these
several manganese operations, no doubt,
that an option has been taken on the farm
of AIr. d. A. Kayser, at the Waynesboro
Junction, fer purchase, for the purpose
of erecting a steel furnace. If manganese
is found in quantities, other than at Cri-
mora and the Old Dominion mines, the
inducement for a steel or ferro manganese
plant, would be such as to Justify the
venture The iron ores ara known to ex-
list, in unlimited quantities. on the Vesu-
vius and other contiguous properties, and
with the manganese at hand, and all other
material for such industries in close prox-
unity, there would be everything to en-
courage such an enterprise.
There has been very little said about this
| mineral district, for the reason that the
main source Of its value would be manga
nese, and it is difficult to determine such
! deposits, in quantities large enough to
work prolitably, until thorough examin-
alton has been made with pick and shovel
This is tedious and costly, and it will take
some months yet before a satisfactory
| conclusion can be reached. If the pres
ent prospects materialize, however, the
South River mineral District will become
historical, and the seat of vast industrial
enterprise and wealth.